Name: Handel, G.F.: Samson [Oratorio] (Mcgegan) by Nicholas Mcgegan
Brand: Nicholas McGegan
SKU: 4009350834255
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 3 (504 reviews)

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Listeners should demand more of a recording of Handel's Samson than is delivered here. The work requires a brawnier Samson than is provided by tenor Thomas Cooley. With his agile voice and subtle phrasing, Cooley is fine at portraying the protagonist as pathetic victim, but he altogether lacks the robust tone and vigorous strength to convincingly embody the hero of the Israelites. Soprano Sophie Daneman lacks the sensuality crucial for Dalila. Though her voice is lovely and her intonation flawless, Daneman utterly fails to convince as a seductress; some cynical listeners might wonder why Samson fell for her. Conductor Nicholas McGegan's leadership can't be faulted; he clearly knows and likes the work, and his interpretation is admirably balanced between dramatic drive and lyrical introspection. The performances by NDR Chor and FestspielOrchester Göttingen are excellent, particularly the chorus, and the sound of Carus' super audio recording, made in Dresden's lovely Frauenkirche, is opulent yet vivid, but the production is flawed by the weakness of the two principals.

Handel, G.F.: Samson [Oratorio] (Mcgegan)

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1. Samson, HWV 57 : Symphony

2. Samson, HWV 57 : Menuet

3. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 1: Recitative: This day, a solemn feast to Dagon held (Samson)

4. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 1: Awake the trumpet's lofty sound! (Chorus)

5. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 1: Air: Ye men of Gaza (Philistine Woman)

6. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 1: Awake the trumpet's lofty sound! (Chorus)

7. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 1: Air: Loud as the thunder's awful voice (Philistine Man)

8. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 1: Recitative: Why by an angel was my birth foretold (Samson)

9. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 1: Air: Torments alas! are not confin'd (Samson)

10. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 2: Recitative: O change beyond report, thought, or belief! (Micah)

11. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 2: Air: O mirror of our fickle state! (Micah)

12. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Whom have I to complain of but myself (Samson, Micah)

13. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 2: Air: Totel eclipse! (Samson)

14. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 2: Oh first created beam! (Chorus)

15. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 2: Recitative: Ye see, my friends, how woes enclosed me round (Samson, Micah)

16. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Brethren and men of Dan, say, where is my son (Manoa, Micah)

17. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Oh miserable change! (Manoa)

18. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Oh ever failing trust in mortal strength! (Israelite Man)

19. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Air: God of our fathers, what is man? (Israelite Man)

20. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Recitative: The good we wish for, often proves our bane (Manoa)

21. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Air: Thy glorious deeds inspir'd my tongue (Manoa)

22. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Recitative: Justly these evils have befall'n thy son (Samson, Manoa)

23. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Recitative: My griefs for this (Samson)

24. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Air: Why does the God of Israel sleep? (Samson)

25. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Recitative: These lies our hope! (Micah)

26. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Then shall they know (Chorus)

27. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Recitative: For thee, my dearest son (Manoa, Samson)

28. Samson, HWV 57 : Act I Scene 3: Then round about the starry throne (Chorus)

1. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 1: Recitative: Trust yet (Manoa, Samson, Micah)

2. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 1: Air: Return, oh God of hosts! (Micah)

3. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 2: Recitative: But who is this, that so bedeck'd and gay (Micah, Samson, Dalila)

4. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 2: Air: With plaintive notes and am'rous moan (Dalila)

5. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 2: Recitative: Did love constrain thee? (Samson)

6. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 2: Air: Your charms to ruin led the way (Samson)

7. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 2: Recitative: Forgive what's done, nor think of what's past cure (Dalila)

8. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 2: Duet: My faith and truth (Dalila, Virgin)

9. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 2: Air: To fleeting pleasures make your court (Dalila, Chorus)

10. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 2: Recitative: Ne'er think of that! (Samson, Dalila)

11. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 2: Duet: Traitor to love! (Dalila Samson) - Scene 3: Recitative: She's gone! (Micah Samson)

12. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 3: Air: It is not virtue, valour, wit (Micah)

13. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 3: Recitative: Favour'd of Heaven is he (Samson)

14. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 3: To man God's universal law (Chorus)

15. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 4: Recitative: No words of peace (Micah, Harapha, Samson)

16. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 4: Air: Honour and arms scorn such a foe (Harapha)

17. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Cam'st thou for this (Samson, Harapha)

18. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 4: Duet: Go, baffled coward, go (Samson, Harapha)

19. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Here lie the proof (Micah)

20. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 4: Hear, Jacob's God, Jehovah (Chorus)

21. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 4: Recitative: Dagon, arise! (Harapha)

22. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 4: Air: To song and dance (Chorus)

23. Samson, HWV 57 : Act II Scene 4: Fix'd in his everlasting seat (Dalila, Samson, Harapha, Manoa, Chorus)

1. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 1: Recitative: More trouble is behind (Micah, Samson, Harapha)

2. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 1: Air: Presuming slave, to move their wrath (Harapha)

3. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 1: Recitative: Reflect then, Samson, matters now are strain'd (Micah, Samson)

4. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 1: With thunder arm'd great God, arise! (Chorus)

5. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 1: Recitative: Be of good courage (Samson, Micah, Harapha)

6. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 1: Air: Thus when the sun from's wat'ry bed (Samson)

7. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 1: Recitative: With might endued above the sons of men (Micah)

8. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 1: Air: The Holy One of Israel be thy guide (Micah, Chorus))

9. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 2: Recitative: Old Manoa, with youthful steps, makes haste (Micah, Manoa)

10. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 2: Air and Chorus: Great Dagon has subdued our foe (Philistine Man, Chorus)

11. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 2: Recitative: What noise of joy was that? (Manoa, Micah)

12. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 2: Air: How willing my paternal love (Manoa)

13. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 2: Recitative: Your hopes of his deliv'ry seem not vain (Micah, Manoa, Chorus))

14. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 2: Recitative: Noise call you this? (Micah, Manoa)

15. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 3: Recitative: Where shall I run (Messenger, Micah, Manoa)

16. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 3: Air: Ye sons of Israel, now lament (Micah, Chorus)

17. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 3: Dead March

18. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 3: Recitative and Air: The body comes (Micah, Manoa)

19. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 3: Glorious Hero, may thy grave Peace (Manoa, Israelit Woman, Chorus)

20. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 3: Recitative: Come, come! (Manoa)

21. Samson, HWV 57 : Act III Scene 3: Air and Chorus: Let the bright Seraphim in burning row (Israelite Woman, Chorus)

Technical Specifications